Stoke midfielder Darren Fletcher believes Xherdan Shaqiri's physical similarity to Lionel Messi gives opposition defenders a problem.
The Switzerland international has been the star of the Potters' pre-season and is looking to get his fitness right for the campaign ahead after injury restricted him to 22 appearances last year.
Fletcher, a new arrival from West Brom, has been impressed after seeing the stocky 5ft 5ins - the same height as Messi - 25-year-old at close quarters.
RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Liverpool insist Barcelona target Philippe Coutinho has not... Premier League... read more

Related news

Kelechi Iheanacho can form a lethal partnership with Jamie Vardy this season, according to Leicester boss Craig Shakespeare.
The £25million striker came off the bench to set up Vardy's second goal during his debut against Borussia Monchengladbach last...

Liverpool forward Sadio Mane has heaped praise on new team mate Mohamed Salah, calling him 'quicker than everyone on the pitch'.
Salah has scored three times in pre-season since joining the Reds from Roma in a £37million move.
Mane, who is returning...

Nemanja Matic has had no time to get used to life in Manchester as the United new boy has been thrown straight into the thick of things on his 29th birthday.
Manchester United's new £40million signing took part in Tuesday morning's training session as...

Thomas Muller insists he is not in competition with Bayern Munich's summer recruitment James Rodriguez but admits he is under pressure to score goals next season.
The Germany international does not see Rodriguez as a rival for a first-team place after...

Borussia Dortmund ace Ousmane Dembele appears to have taken a leaf out of Neymar's book by clashing with a team-mate while speculation of a move away continues.
The 20-year-old, who joined Dortmund last summer from Rennes, had to be held back by...